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Symptoms before and during period?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/9/2007 8:19 PM (GMT -6)
Hi,

this is a question for all of the ladies with UC out there. Do you notice that you start to show symptoms before and during your period? because I am fine after it is over, just a few days before and during. I was just wondering if anyone has this happen to them too.

Thanks!

Posted 9/9/2007 10:31 PM (GMT -6)
Hi...I don't get my periods any longer due to a hysterectomy...but when I did have them, I did have exacerbation of symptoms.

I would suggest to up rectal meds just before your period...or don't do any tapering of them during that time.

Welcome to the forum!
quincy
Posted 9/10/2007 4:55 AM (GMT -6)
Hi and welcome! To answer your question......a resounding YES. I have always had an increase of symptoms around my period and in fact, that is pretty common for many of Uc women. I agree with Q here, if you aren't on rectal meds then at least consider them during this time. In the past I would use Rowasa enemas a week before I was due to start to a week after and it helped control the symptoms. Now I use just Canasa suppositories (well I pretty much use them every night now but thats a different story).
Posted 9/10/2007 8:06 AM (GMT -6)
It's very common. Even ladies who don't have IBD can experience diarrhea and digestive upset in the week before and/or during their periods. The hormone fluctuations stir things up.
Posted 9/10/2007 9:48 AM (GMT -6)
Oh yes! I was Dx'd with UC July/06 and started having peri-meno symptoms not long before that. My periods were very erratic for a few months after I was Dx'd so I didn't notice any pattern. Now my periods seem to be normal again and I definitly notice a pattern. There's alwaysa bit of blood on my stool during my period, and an increase in bm's. I've always had weird bm's around my period even before UC though.
Posted 9/10/2007 12:10 PM (GMT -6)
Yup, very common, hormones have a link to IBD and IBS as well.


:)
Posted 9/10/2007 12:50 PM (GMT -6)
I can get diarreah around my period, which aggravates my UC, I think may be due more to cramps than UC.......thought one of my doc's had said that. When I don't have bad cramps, I don't get diarreah.
Posted 9/10/2007 3:09 PM (GMT -6)
yep! for me it makes about everything 100 times worse. i try to the the birth control pill so i can skip my period as much as possible, but when it comes it is ROUGH
Posted 9/10/2007 5:06 PM (GMT -6)
I am currently flaring and it is "that time" of the month. I can't attribute the flare to any recent stress, weird food or lack of medications. This is no fun. I will plan on asking my GI about taking the placebo birth control pills or something to not go through this monthly. It is emotionally and physically taxing!
Posted 9/10/2007 8:19 PM (GMT -6)
Yes for me too!! Before I even went to my physician for the first time over all this UC stuff, I would always have very frequent BM's a couple days before my period...I felt like I spent my whole morning and afternoon in the bathroom before work (I'm a 2nd shifter, thank goodness, or I would be late everyday being on the toilet) !!! I thought it was normal...It could be all my hormones just get messed up, or it could've been UC all along...Who knows!! But now, even being on the medications I am, I still get that way...Kind of a mini-flare I guess...
Posted 9/11/2007 12:26 AM (GMT -6)
It's the increase of prostaglandins that causes all those nice symptoms. Add UC and it will just increase the symptoms as well.

Not all women have high amounts of prostaglandins (unbelievable), and I actually know some women who haven't ever had a cramp during periods. How in the world could some possibly miss out on all the writhing cramps and toilet sitting feeling like every orifice "down there" is puking...oh the fun!

The antiprostaglandin meds used for periods are ibuprophen, aspirin and naproxen. I'm sure maybe 5ASA meds could help somewhat if taken via rectum a few days before and a few days during periods??

quincy
Posted 9/11/2007 7:49 PM (GMT -6)

Definitely symptomatic right before my period!  As soon as I realize what's going on, I try and watch what I eat until I can get past it.  Sometimes it as much as 8 days before.

As if we don't have enough!

:)  Lana

(remission....treatment:  Colozal and Canasa, every day)

Posted 9/17/2007 6:28 AM (GMT -6)
Hi everyone! I'm new here, I was just diagnosed at the beginning of August 07. I definitely have a rough time right before and during my period. i asked my gastroentrologist about it, and he said if anything that the hormones should cause constipation. That is certainly not true. I think that is my worst time. Bentyl is supposed to be beneficial in helping with the flare up and with cramps/pain due to menstruation.

Diagnosed 8/07 UC

Asacol- 4pills 3xday

Bentyl as needed

probiotics, vitamins 

Posted 9/17/2007 7:14 AM (GMT -6)
HI red head twin. Your doctor is very wrong about the constipation part. i have had UC since dec 04 and have not been constipated once since then. I too have a flare that time of the month. I am now on remicade so they are not nearly as bad.
Posted 9/18/2007 12:04 AM (GMT -6)
It makes you wonder about Doctors. How could he not know that periods even in people without UC can cause diareah. I definitely experience worse UC symptoms before and during period.
Posted 9/18/2007 1:56 AM (GMT -6)

quincy said...
.....

The antiprostaglandin meds used for periods are ibuprophen, aspirin and naproxen. ....


quincy

i just want to say DO NOT take any ibuprofen, motrin, advil, naproxen or any other NON STEROID ANTI INFLAMMITORY med if you have UC.

this is very bad for those with UC and cause major inflammation problems in the colon. 

many gastroenterologists recommend that their IBD patients stay away from NSAIDs. The reason is because NSAIDs are known to have an adverse effect on Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Even in people without IBD, NSAIDs can contribute to ulcers in both the stomach and the first part of the small intestine and large colon. NSAIDs can cause inflammation and worsen bleeding. They can even knock some people with IBD out of remission.

People with IBD / UC should consult with their gastroenterologist before taking NSAIDs, even those available over the counter.

There is some good news for those who have IBD and are looking for over the counter pain relief. Acetaminophen, sold under many brand names including Tylenol, is not an NSAID and may be safe for people with IBD.

bummer in regards to period pain, but don't do anything to make your UC worse!!!

Posted 9/18/2007 5:43 AM (GMT -6)
i used to suffer really bad symptoms before and throughout my period also.  when i went to my gi he had no answers for me.  so i took my problems to my gyno because it had gotten so bad i was calling out of work.  my gyno put me on birth control and since then things have been great.  no symptoms, no period, what more can a girl ask for.
Posted 9/18/2007 6:51 AM (GMT -6)
I'm pretty sure it was ibuprofen that kicked me out of my 8 month remission and into a flare. I have gynacological issues that cause severe monthly pain. During a particularly severe bout, I took heavy doses of advil for a day for the pain.....2 days later I was flaring. I can't help but wonder if my significant advil use over the past 15 years for cramping (even though just a few days a month) didn't contribute to my developing UC in the first place.
Posted 9/18/2007 5:43 PM (GMT -6)
i do believe that is where mine came from. dr prescribed 800mg motrin and said take 2 and if i need to take 2 more, it wont hurt you. well years and years of taking motrin for everything... i think let to me getting uc.
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